Yuma Regional Medical Center (YRMC) is proud to announce it has once again received the prestigious 2024 Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke GOLD PLUS with Target: Stroke Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll awards from the American Heart Association. These recognitions highlight YRMC’s unwavering dedication, year over year, to providing the highest standard of care for stroke and type 2 diabetes patients.
The Get With The Guidelines® program is a collaborative initiative between the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. It empowers hospitals to improve patient outcomes by following evidence-based treatment guidelines.
A key factor in YRMC’s success is its ability to administer the crucial blood-clot-busting drug, thrombolytic, about 14 minutes faster than the standard set by the American Stroke Association, which is 60 minutes. It’s important to remember that getting immediate medical care is crucial in reducing the long-term effects of a stroke and improving patient outcomes. As a result, YRMC urges all patients who are experiencing stroke-like symptoms to call 9-1-1 immediately.
Calling 9-1-1 will not only result in a safer and faster trip to the hospital, but it also helps speed up the treatment. Paramedics can start blood work and other necessary tests and let YRMC know the patient is on the way so the hospital is ready to treat them upon arrival.
“We want to remind the community, especially our Somerton and San Luis neighbors who are further away from us, about the importance of recognizing stroke symptoms and calling 9-1-1 if they suspect they may be experiencing a stroke,” says Dr. Sarah Sullivan. “Please do not drive to the hospital. We save precious seconds when you allow our local Emergency Medical Service responders to come to you.”
It’s crucial to be aware of the common symptoms of a stroke, which can include sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg; especially on one side of the body. Other symptoms to watch for are confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding speech, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, difficulty walking, dizziness, and loss of balance or coordination. If you or someone you know experiences any of these symptoms, act fast and call 9-1-1 immediately.
For more information on YRMC’s Inpatient Neurology and Stroke Programs, please visit https://www.onvidahealth.org/services/inpatient-neurology-and-stroke-program/.
